Everest Base Camp Trek - 12 Days

Our Everest Base Camp trek begins with a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla or Manthali, depending on the trek season.

During March, April, May, September, October, and November, flights usually depart from Manthali Airport due to heavy air traffic in Kathmandu. To catch an early morning flight, we pick you up from your hotel around 12:30 AM for a 4–5-hour drive to Manthali, followed by a 20-minute flight to Lukla. 

In December, January, February, June, July, and August, you can take a 30–40-minute direct flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. During peak seasons, you can also choose a shared helicopter from Kathmandu to skip the drive to Manthali at an additional cost of around USD 550 per person shared among five people. 

Kathmandu/Manthali → Lukla → Chheplung → Ghat → Phakding 

After landing at Tenzing-Hillary Airport, you begin trekking through the lively streets of Lukla. The trail gradually descends past prayer flags, mani stones, and traditional Sherpa homes.

Reaching Chheplung, you walk through cultivated fields and pine-covered hills. The trail follows the Dudh Koshi River, with Kongde Ri often visible on clear days.

The route continues through Ghat, where you cross suspension bridges and pass chortens, mani walls, and small monasteries. It's your first glimpse into the Sherpa culture of the Khumbu region.

By afternoon, you arrive at Phakding, a peaceful riverside village. You can relax at the teahouse or visit the nearby Rimishung Monastery before settling in for the night.

Today's trek follows the Dudh Koshi River through pine forests, suspension bridges, and traditional Sherpa villages as you gradually ascend to Namche Bazaar. 

Phakding → Toktok → Benkar → Monjo → Jorsalle → Namche Bazaar

Leaving Phakding, the trail takes you beneath towering cliffs with waterfalls cascading into the valley. The route remains gentle, passing through the traditional villages of Toktok and Benkar. 

Following the uphill trek after the riverside trail from Benkar, you reach Monjo, the gateway to Sagarmatha National Park. After your permits are checked, the trail continues through peaceful forests toward the heart of the Khumbu region. 

A short walk brings you to Jorsalle, the last village before Namche Bazaar. From here, you cross the iconic Hillary Suspension Bridge, suspended high above the Dudh Koshi River. 

The final section follows a steady ascent on a forested trail toward Namche Bazaar. On a clear day, you may catch your first glimpse of Mount Everest before arriving at the vibrant Sherpa town, known as the gateway to the Everest region. 

Today's rest day helps your body adjust to the increasing altitude. Instead of staying indoors, we take a short hike to higher elevations, following the “hike high, sleep low” principle. 

Namche Bazaar → Syangboche Airport → Everest View Hotel → Khumjung Village →  Hillary School → Namche Bazaar

From Namche Bazaar, you gradually ascend through the prayer flags and mani stones before reaching Syangboche Airport, one of the world’s airports found in high altitude. As you hike, expansive views of the Khumbu Valley and the surrounding peaks unfold before you. 

A short walk up the steep stairs brings you to the Everest View Hotel, one of the highest-altitude hotels on Earth. On a clear day, you can enjoy panoramic views of Mount Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and more.

The trail starts to descend towards the green-roof settlements known as Khumjung Village. Exploring the local handcrafted woolen items around the village, you pass the Hillary School, founded by Sir Edmund Hillary to support the local Sherpa community.

After spending time at the viewpoint, you can explore the yak farm and Khumbu villages before returning to Namche Bazaar. The afternoon is free for you to explore local cafés and bakeries, browse local gear shops, or visit the Sherpa Culture Museum.

Today's trail offers some of the best mountain scenery of the Everest Base Camp Trek. We start after breakfast in Namche, continue through rhododendron forests and river crossings to reach Deboche.

Namche Bazaar → Kyangjuma → Phunki Thenga → Tengboche → Deboche

The trail follows the gradual ascents and descents along the mountainside to Kyangjuma, a small village named after Tibetan medicine. Along the way, you can enjoy uninterrupted views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku on clear days. 

You then trek along a downhill path through rhododendron and pine forests to Phunki Thenga, a small riverside settlement. You can enjoy the warm lunch here alongside the Dudh Koshi River before continuing for an uphill trek.

As you gradually gain elevation through the fir trees and colorful wildflowers, you arrive at Tengboche. The village is home to the region's largest Buddhist monastery (Tengboche Monastery), known for its spiritual atmosphere. The surrounding mountain views make it one of the highlights of your EBC 12-day trek.

From here, you continue a gentle walk through birch forests towards Deboche, a quiet village where you spend the night surrounded by peaceful Himalayan scenery.

Today's trek takes you above the tree line as the landscape gradually changes from dense forests to wide alpine valleys. Along the way, you pass traditional Sherpa settlements and enjoy closer views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks.

Deboche → Pangboche → Shomare → Dingboche

After breakfast at Deboche, you cross the Imja Khola before reaching Pangboche, one of the oldest Sherpa villages in the Everest region. The village is home to the historic Pangboche Monastery, with Ama Dablam rising dramatically in the background.

The trail continues through Shomare, where the forests begin to thin, and the valley opens up. As you gain elevation, you notice the changing landscape, with alpine shrubs replacing the dense woodlands below.

Crossing the Imja Valley, you arrive at Dingboche, a beautiful village surrounded by stone-walled fields. The afternoon is yours to rest and enjoy views of Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Island Peak, and the surrounding mountains.

Today's acclimatization hike helps your body adjust to the thinner air before heading to higher elevations. Following the "trek higher, sleep lower" principle, you walk to a higher viewpoint before returning to Dingboche.

Dingboche → Nangkartshang Peak (Acclimatization Hike) → Dingboche

You follow a steep trail from Dingboche toward Nangkartshang Peak, one of the best acclimatization hikes in the Everest region. As you gain elevation, the views become more spectacular with every step.

From the viewpoint, you enjoy panoramic views of Makalu, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Island Peak, and the Imja Valley below. The higher elevation also helps your body adapt for the days ahead.

After spending time at the viewpoint, you descend back to Dingboche. Here, you have enough time to relax at your teahouse, enjoy the mountain scenery, or prepare for the journey toward Everest Base Camp.

Day 7 takes you deeper into the high Himalayas toward Lobuche. The landscape becomes more rugged, with rocky trails, alpine valleys, and panoramic mountain views.

Dingboche → Thukla → Thukla Pass → Lobuche

Following a gradual trail across the open valley, passing chortens, fluttering prayer flags, and the nearby Pheriche Aid Post. The route offers impressive views of Taboche (6,367 m / 20,889 ft) and Cholatse  (6,335 m / 20,784 ft) rising above the valley.

By midday, you reach Thukla (Dughla), a small village where you stop for lunch before continuing toward the pass. The trail becomes steeper as it ascends along the rocky hillside.

At Thukla Pass, you can find a collection of memorials dedicated to climbers and Sherpas who lost their lives on Everest and neighbouring peaks. This quiet site is one of the most emotional landmarks of the Everest Base Camp Trek.

Beyond the pass, the trail follows the rugged Khumbu Glacier moraine before descending gently to Lobuche. Here, you can settle in for the night surrounded by yak pastures and the towering Lobuche and Nuptse peaks. 

Today is one of the most rewarding days of your 12-day EBC trek as you finally make your way to the Everest Base Camp before returning to Gorak Shep for the night.

Lobuche → Gorak Shep → Everest Base Camp → Gorak Shep

We begin our trekking on a rocky mountain path beside the Khumbu Glacier, where glacial moraines and scattered boulders shape the landscape. On the way, you can see the scientific research center known as Pyramid while heading towards Gorak Shep, the final village before the base camp. 

After a fulfilling lunch, you leave your baggage at the lodge and carry only your essentials such as snacks, a water bottle, and a mobile/camera. Then you continue towards the thrilling journey across the rocky ridges beside the glacier toward Everest Base Camp. 

Surrounded by towering ice formations, colorful prayer flags, and the Khumbu Icefall, you finally stand at the base of Mt.Everest, enjoying the view of Khumbutse (6,636 m / 21,772 ft), Pumori, Nuptse, and Lhotse. 

You can spend some time celebrating your achievement and capturing group photos before retracing your steps to Gorak Shep. This is your final overnight stay in the Upper Khumbu region, before heading for an early morning hike to Kala Patthar. 

Our 9th day begins before dawn as we set out for a hike to Kala Patthar, the highest point of your Everest Base Camp 12-day trek. Enjoying the first light illuminating Mount Everest, we return to Gorak Shep for breakfast before descending to Pheriche.

Gorak Shep → Kala Patthar → Gorak Shep → Lobuche → Thukla → Pheriche

Carrying only your essentials, you leave Gorak Shep in the early morning and follow a rocky mountain trail to Kala Patthar. As daylight spreads across the Himalayas, breathtaking views of Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Pumori, and the Khumbu Glacier unfold before you.

Returning to Gorak Shep for breakfast, you retrace the glacier-side trail toward Lobuche. The familiar route passes rocky moraines and open mountain landscapes, offering a different perspective as you leave the higher elevations behind.

The path continues to Thukla Pass Memorial, a peaceful place to pause and remember the history of mountaineering in the Everest region before continuing farther down the valley. 

Beyond Thukla, the trail follows the wide Imja Valley where alpine meadows and yak pastures replace the rugged landscape. Passing small stone shelters along the way, you arrive at Pheriche, where you spend the night with relief from the thin air.

Day 10 of the Mt. Everest Base Camp trek marks the beginning of your return journey through the heart of the Khumbu Valley. The route leads you through traditional Sherpa villages, centuries-old monasteries, and peaceful forests before returning to Namche Bazaar. 

Pheriche → Shomare → Pangboche → Deboche → Tengboche → Phunki Thenga → Kyangjuma → Namche Bazaar

Following the wide Imja Valley, you pass through Shomare before reaching Pangboche, one of the oldest Sherpa villages in the Everest region. Stone houses, cultivated fields, and the towering face of Ama Dablam make this one of the most scenic sections of the trail.

The trail then passes through quiet juniper forests to Deboche before reaching Tengboche Monastery, the largest monastery in the Everest region. On the path, you are surrounded by fluttering prayer flags and long prayer walls.

From Tengboche, the trail heads toward Phunki Thenga, crossing the Dudh Koshi River on a suspension bridge. You are accompanied by rhododendron and pine forests throughout the route toward Kyangjuma. 

The final section follows the mountainside path back to Namche Bazaar, the vibrant Sherpa town at the heart of the Everest region. After days spent among glaciers and alpine landscapes, Namche welcomes you with its lively streets, cozy cafés, and local bakeries.

Today marks the final day of your trek in the Everest region, as you follow the familiar route from Namche back to Lukla.

Namche Bazaar → Monjo → Phakding → Toktok → Chheplung → Lukla

You start the day from Namche Bazaar with a warm breakfast and descend on stone staircases toward Hillary Suspension Bridge. The trail continues through pine forests before reaching Monjo, where you exit Sagarmatha National Park. 

As you move to the lower elevation, you continue along the peaceful riverside paths and suspension bridges. The path becomes gentler, with warm air and familiar mountain scenery, before reaching Phakding. This peaceful village is our lunch stop. 

Continuing the journey, you cross the Dudh Koshi River several times on suspension bridges. Along the route, you pass through the Sherpa villages decorated with prayer wheels and mani walls. Following the dense forest, you walk upward to Kusum Stream before descending toward Toktok.

The trail then takes you through the unpaved roads surrounded by traditional gompas and prayer flags as you pass Chheplung. Your EBC 12-day trek nears its end upon reaching Lukla. You can enjoy a peaceful evening with your trekking crew on this final night in the Everest region.

Your Mt. Everest Base Camp trek ends with an early morning flight from Lukla. As the plane lifts above the Khumbu Valley, you can enjoy one last view of the snow-capped peaks, deep valleys, and mountain villages you've explored over the past 12 days. 

Lukla → Manthali → Kathmandu

During peak trekking seasons, flights usually land at Manthali Airport in Ramechhap. After a 20-minute flight, we continue on a shared drive to Kathmandu, following the scenic Tamakoshi and Sunkoshi river valleys.  

In the off-peak season, you can take a direct 30–40 minute flight from Lukla to Kathmandu, avoiding the drive from Manthali.

The trek ends in Kathmandu, from where we transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax, explore the city, or celebrate the successful completion of your 12-day Everest Base Camp Trek.